PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryder Morningstar (ranked 6146 p4p, 5258 weight class) and Pawel Nastula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Morningstar
vs
Nastula

175 cm
21
155
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
150
12 - 53 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryder Morningstar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 53 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pawel Nastula!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nastula gets a takedown into half guard.

Nastula is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Morningstar sees it coming and defends easily.
Morningstar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Nastula trying to control from Morningstar's half guard. Morningstar has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Nastula looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nastula is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Morningstar is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Morningstar has escaped and now he's on top!

Nastula manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Morningstar manages to get himself to full guard.

Nastula is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nastula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nastula advances position into side control!

Nastula wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Morningstar, who protects the arm well.

Nastula goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Morningstar has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nastula but great work by Morningstar.
Nastula tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Morningstar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nastula is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Morningstar tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Nastula manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Morningstar prevents Nastula from improving his position.
Nastula felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Nastula is pressing down on Morningstar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nastula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nastula is looking for a kimura but Morningstar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nastula to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nastula seems to be working for a kimura but Morningstar defends the submission attempt.
Nastula prevents Morningstar from standing back up.

Nastula has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Morningstar defend it? Nastula steps over the head and cranks it - Morningstar is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Nastula!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pawel Nastula!